Trauma & PTSD
Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster… longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea.
Actions for Now
Steps to Reduce Symptons
- PTSD Screening
Determine whether your symptoms match the common symptoms of PTSD - Peter Levine’s Felt Sense Exercise
Re-connect with and learn to describe the sensations in your body - DC Rape Crisis Center “No Straight Path” Resources
Find dozens of healing tools spanning from poetry to grounding activities to visual art - Out Of The Storm
Resources for those coping with Complex PTSD - Calming Exercise
A physical calming exercise for when you’re feeling triggered or otherwise stressed - Does the Dog Die?
Worried that the movie or book you’ve been waiting to experience will have triggers? This website will give you a heads up. - PTSD Coach
Developed by the VA, this app offers tools for both personal assessment and symptom management - PTSD Visualization: For Trauma Relief and Healing
A 40-minute spoken meditation designed to help you overcome traumatic pain - Do I Have PTSD?
This graphic will help you determine whether your symptoms are the result of trauma - Yoga Poses To Release Trauma In Body
Yoga teacher Colleen Saidman Yee cites these poses as being helpful in releasing feelings of trauma - Meditation for Relaxation and Sleep
This meditation is roughly 45 minutes long and aims to help you refresh and reenergize - notOK
Receive immediate support from your friends, family, or peer network - Making it Through a Trauma Anniversary
It’s normal to have negative memories or symptoms of trauma during times that remind you of the incident. Here’s how to cope. - It’s always good to have a safety plan, in case of a crisis. You can create one easily with tools like this
- TRF Tuesday Library
Somatic resources for those affected by trauma
Discrimination & Racial Trauma
- What to Do if You’ve Been the Victim of a Hate Crime
This brief guide from the Human Rights Campaign outlines important steps you can take - Talking with Children
These resources can help you teach the young ones in your life about hate crimes, discrimination, and how to cope with them. Note that this resource is from the Unitarian Universalist Association, and includes some religious tools - Ways To Take Action
This list from the Anti-Defamation League (see “Take Action”) shares ways you can fight antisemitism and other forms of hate, from legislative advocacy to crime reporting
Medical Trauma
- Medical Trauma Overview
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network defines medical trauma and links to various tools for survivors - Medical Trauma PTSD
An explanation of medical trauma PTSD, its causes, and resources for coping with it
Natural Disasters
- The Complete Guide To What To Do Before, During, and After a Disaster
Make a preparedness plan and review essential safety tips for tornadoes, fires, floods, and other natural disasters - Natural Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
Signs of an impending disaster, ways to secure your home, and further resources
Violent Crime, Stalking, & Domestic Abuse
- What To Do In a Domestic Violence Situation: A Guide For Survivors and Supporters
Steps you can take to support yourself and/or others dealing with domestic violence - Find Domestic Violence Shelters
Citizens of the US and Canada can use this tool to locate local shelters - 7 Signs You Have PTSD From a Past Relationship
Not sure if you’re dealing with the effects of trauma? These signs can help you better understand your situation - Recognizing and Responding to Stalking
An educational video sponsored by the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women and the National Center for Victims of Crime - 10 Tips to Thriving After Domestic Violence
A graphic about moving forward after a harmful relationship - How to Get Ready for a Healthy Relationship After an Abusive One
Melanie Shapiro, LICSW, outlines the steps a person can take to prepare for a happy and balanced relationship following trauma and abuse. - Stronghearts Native Helpline
A domestic violence helpline for American Indians and Alaskan Natives
Sexual Assault & Abuse
- Sexual Violence and Coping Skills
Recommendations for healthily coping with the aftermath of sexual assault/abuse. This site also links to pages on assault in the LGBTQA community, male survivors of assault, and more. - Callisto
This app survivors of sexual assault to create a record of and report their assault - Recovering Your Sexual Self After Trauma, ft. Alina McClerklin, LICSW
Tips on how to grow comfortable with and take control of your sexuality following a traumatic experience. - Online Street Harassment Hotline
If you’ve experienced and/or been triggered by an incident of public harassment, this hotline is available to answer any questions you may have and to provide support
War & Displacement
- My Health EVet
Veterans can use this resource to access health records and advice from the VA - Veteran’s Crisis Line
Call this number if you’re experiencing a crisis and/or suicidal thoughts (1-800-273-8255). You can also text 838255 for support. - Refugee Center Online
Find resources online and in your city
For Allies
Give the Best Support Possible
- 5 Ways to Lovingly Support Someone With C-PTSD
How you can be there for loved ones who are living with Complex PTSD (for more information on Complex PTSD, see “Master the Subject”) - Helping a Family Member Who Has PTSD
This page from the VA focuses on families of veterans but applies to anyone with a loved one struggling with PTSD - 16 Ways to Help a Friend With PTSD
Advice for supporting your loved ones, from learning more about PTSD to encouraging positive self-esteem - 22 Ways to Support Someone With PTSD, From People Who Have It
This post from The Mighty lists ways that trauma survivors want you to help them - How You Can Support a Partner Who’s Struggling with their Mental Health
Kristin Dart, LICSW, offers tips for those unsure how to best support their significant other during tough psychological times. - Clinician Well-Being Knowledge Hub
Research and tools designed to tackle clinician burnout and vicarious trauma
Discrimination & Racial Trauma
- The 7 Circles of Whiteness
This tool is designed to bring promote self-reflection and anti-racist allyship - Toolkits from The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs
Guides and toolkits for your community to address intimate partner violence, hate violence, violence directed at transgender people and people-of-color survivors. - Mind-Body Approaches to Racial Justice Solidarity
Therapist and activist Jacky Casumbal describes how to promote mental and physical wellness while fighting for racial justice - Don’t Be a Bystander: 6 Tips For Responding to Racist Attacks
Also applicable to sexism, transphobia, and other forms of prejudicial violence - For Our White Friends Desiring to Be Allies
Advice on how to support and uplift marginalized communities from a position of racial privilege - Expressive Writing Prompts to Explore White Fragility
Take a creative approach to reflecting on whiteness, spiritual bypassing, and related themes
Natural Disasters
- How to Really Help Someone After a Natural Disaster
Learn how you can best respond to aid someone through the grieving process in the wake of disaster. - Natural Disasters: How to Help
Kid’s Health organized this list of ways that young people can provide support (the tips are relevant for adults, too!) - How to Refer a Loved One For Counseling After Disaster
Could your loved one benefit from professional support? Here are some tips for helping them get the treatment they need.
Relinquishment Trauma
- Dear Adoptive Parents: The Burden of Adoptee Loyalty
A note to adoptive parents on the struggle many adoptees feel to hide negative or confused feelings regarding adoption - Understanding the Happiness and Hurt Adoptees Feel
This blog discusses how adoptees often feel many, seemingly-contradictory emotions about their adoption—love and loneliness, gratitude and rage, happiness and grief, etc. - But I Adopted My Child At Birth—What Do You Mean, ‘Trauma?’
An article on fetal trauma and the importance of healing for children, even when they were adopted at birth
Sexual Assault & Abuse
- Tips for Talking with Survivors of Sexual Assault
How to communicate effectively and empathetically with someone who has disclosed their trauma - How to Help a Friend Who Has Been Sexually Assaulted
Ways you can be an ally, with information about steps that can be taken immediately after an assault as well as long-term support methods
Violent Crime, Stalking, & Domestic Abuse
- How to Help Victims of Domestic Violence
Recognize the signs of domestic abuse and lend a helping hand to survivors - How to Support Victims of Violence
What you can say and do to help a friend who has experienced a violent incident - 5 Tips For Helping A Friend Who Is Being Stalked
Information about what stalking looks like and how you can support someone experiencing it - What is Domestic Violence?
Learn what constitutes domestic abuse, so you can better spot warning signs in the relationships of loved ones
War & Displacement
- Helping Adolescents Affected By War, Trauma, and Displacement
An article summarizing recent findings in the fields of childhood psychiatry and trauma - Supporting a Veteran Loved One
Tips for recognizing signs of PTSD and supporting the individual coping with it
You’re Not Alone
Connect with Others, Hear their Stories & Access Playlists
- After Trauma, Survivor’s Stories
Survivors of gang violence, roadway accidents, serious injuries, and more tell their stories - Parenting with PTSD: There Are Good Days and Bad Days
One mother opens up on the added challenge of caring for her children while dealing with symptoms of trauma - How PTSD Disrupts Relationships
One person describes how PTSD has interfered with their love life through a blog and graphic - PTSD Community, Stories, & Info
A compilation of articles from The Mighty on PTSD and trauma, including “Why I Feel Guilty For Having PTSD” and “5 Ways To Deal With News Trauma” - Check In With Me
Having a rough day and looking for support? This community from The Mighty has you covered.
Discrimination & Racial Trauma
- It Gets Better
Survivor Burke Burnett sends a positive message after surviving a homophobic attack - Anti-Racism Podcast List
This list features shows that cover intersectionality, the prison system, our treatment of indigenous communities, and more - The Truth About Racial Trauma
Trauma therapist Stacey Thompson shares her personal and professional experiences
*For more, see “Identity & Discrimination”
Medical Trauma
- Family Voices: Stories of Coping and Healing From Medical Trauma
Two mothers discuss their families’ experiences with medical trauma after their children became chronically ill
Natural Disasters
- First-Hand Experience: We Were Among the Lucky Hurricane Andrew Survivors
One man describes how he and his parents survived the hurricane - How National Disasters Can Be Faith-Challenging Experiences
This NPR story looks at the conflict natural disasters can cause for those with strong religious beliefs - Heartwarming True Stories of Survival for Victims of Natural Disasters
5 brief stories of survival under extraordinary circumstances - Tsunami Stories: Your Experiences
The BBC collected several stories from survivors of tsunamis in countries including Sri Lanka and Thailand
Relinquishment Trauma
- Thriving Adoptees
A podcast featuring adoptees stories of healing and living - Adoptees On
A podcast where adoptees discuss the adoption experience - The Adopted Life, Episode 1
An online video series empowering adoptees by sharing their stories - Flip the Script
This Youtube film shines a light on the perspectives of adoptees, allowing them to reclaim their narratives - Sharing Personal Adoption Details With Others: How Much is Too Much?
An adult adoptee considers how to respond when others ask her for details about her birth and adoption - The Lost Daughters: An independent writing project created to provide an adoptee-centric space that brings readers the narrative and perspectives of adopted women
- 6 Word Adoption Memoir (6WAM)
A video series in which adoptees describe their adoption experiences in 6 words or less - Dear Adoption
A platform for adoptees to share their personal experiences
Violent Crime, Stalking, & Domestic Abuse
- Tell Me When: A Personal Stalking Story
The writer describes her experience being stalked in high school, and why it was difficult for her to report the offender - How I Survived A Mugging
What one woman learned after being mugged in a familiar city - 6 Brave Personal Stories of Domestic Abuse
This TEDx-sponsored post features men and women discussing the role domestic violence has played in their lives, and how they’ve moved forward from it - I Had an Internet Stalker For Five Years
One woman describes how an internet stalker stole her identity and created an internet persona in her image - My Past Relationship Made Me Who I Am Today
The writer reflects on an emotionally and physically abusive relationship
Sexual Assault & Abuse
- Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
A community offering support and resources for survivors of abuse by church leaders - Recovery is Possible: Male Sexual Assault Survivors Speak
Three men share their stories in this video about recovery and growth after childhood sexual abuse - How I Took Back My Power After Experiencing Sexual Trauma
The writer shares their personal journey reclaiming their sexuality following abuse - 1 in 6
An online chat and support group for male survivors of sexual violence - 5 Stages of Healing After Sexual Assault
One of many moving posts from The Mighty, this was written by a trauma-survivor who works with trauma victims
War & Displacement
- PTSD Documentary
A brief documentary on PTSD narrated by three war veterans
Master the Subject
Steps To Reduce Symptoms
- Trauma and the Brain
An animated video explaining typical neurological responses to trauma - What is Complex PTSD?
Did you know that there’s a type of PTSD called “Complex PTSD” (or C-PTSD) which often presents differently? Learn more here. - PTSD 101 Curriculum
A collection of podcasts sponsored by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs National Center for PTSD, covering the etiology, diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment of PTSD - The Science And Biology Of PTSD
Learn how PTSD affects the body and brain - 20 Signs Of Unresolved Trauma
The effects of trauma can manifest in myriad ways throughout our lives - What Does it Mean to be Triggered?
Therapist Sarah Holland clarifies what triggers really are - Faces of Trauma
An extended personal blog and resource guide for non-combat PTSD - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s National Center for Trauma Informed Care (NCTI)
Information on trauma-informed care alongside hotlines, support services, and referral resources for those coping with its aftermath - National Institute of Mental Health
An overview of the causes, symptoms, and treatments for PTSD. - Trauma and Addiction: Crash Course Psychology
An educational video about the relationship between trauma and substance abuse - NPR PTSD News Clips
Regularly updated audio reports on trauma and PTSD across the US - After a Crisis, Helping Your Children Heal
A document from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network on moving forward with your child after a major event - How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime
This TED talk discusses the effects of trauma on children’s lifelong health - Don’t Let Travel Anxiety and PTSD Trap You At Home
Tips for beating anxiety so you can travel safely and happily. - Anxiety Disorders and Social Security Disability
A page detailing how to apply for social security benefits related to an anxiety disorder - What is EMDR?
This blog provides a detailed introduction to EMDR, a cutting-edge form of treatment that is frequently used to support and empower survivors of trauma - Do I Need Brainspotting?
A review of a common, brain-based method of treatment for trauma and PTSD, Brainspotting
Discrimination & Racial Trauma
- Jewish Trauma May Be Passed Down through Generations
The writer reflects on her own experiences and the epigenetic evidence for inherited trauma - The Little Understood Mental Health Effects of Racial Trauma
This interview with researcher Erlanger Turner explores the lasting impact of incidents such as harassment, brutality, and more - The Link Between Racism and PTSD
This article focuses on how everything from microaggressions to full-fledged hate acts affects the mental health of African Americans. - The Asian Fetish
This podcast from Stuff Mom Never Told You looks into society’s tendency to fetishize Asian women - Racialized Trauma
Resmaa Menakem created this free, 5-part e-course - Why Latinx People Need Better Mental Health Support
This article from Teen Vogue looks at the high rates of mental illness within the Latinx community, and the stigma that prevents many from seeking treatment
Medical Trauma
- When Treatment Becomes Trauma: Defining, Preventing, and Transforming Medical Trauma
A paper discussing the causes and effects of medical trauma - Posttraumatic Stress Following Acute Medical Trauma in Children
This study focuses on the traumatic reactions of children - When Help Causes Harm: The Impact of Medical PTSD
Therapist Regina Tosca describes how trauma can play out in the doctor’s office
Natural Disasters
- The Trauma That Arises From Natural Disasters
An explanation of how natural disasters can lead to common symptoms of trauma and PTSD - Disaster Resource Center
Information on how to prepare for and recover from various types of disaster, including hurricanes, fires, avian influenza, contaminated water, and more - Teacher Vision, National Disasters
Teaching resources for natural disasters - First Responders and Traumatic Events: Normal Distress and Stress Disorders
Signs that first responders may be dealing with stress disorders, and resources they can turn to
Relinquishment Trauma
- How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime
This TED talk discusses the effects of trauma on children’s lifelong health - Understanding the Happiness and Hurt Adoptees Feel
This blog discusses how adoptees often feel many, seemingly-contradictory emotions about their adoption—love and loneliness, gratitude and rage, happiness and grief, etc. - Adoption and Addiction
A video lecture on the relationship between adoption and compulsive behavior - Is Adoption or Relinquishment the Problem?
Discover the difference between adoption and relinquishment, and how both factors can affect the adoptee experience - Living In Adoption’s Emotional Aftermath
This New Yorker article interviews adult adoptees and explores their experiences, the adoption / foster system and more.
Violent Crime, Stalking & Domestic Abuse
- What is Domestic Violence?
Learn what constitutes domestic abuse, be it emotional, physical, financial, or sexual - Race, Ethnicity, and Culture as Critical Factors in Accessing Domestic Violence Resources
Specialized resources for African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, and Indigenous American communities from the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence - LGBTQA Abuse
A power and control wheel that acknowledges specific LGBTQA issues - How to Stop Financial Abuse of the Elderly
Tips for identifying financial abuse in one vulnerable population - What is Financial Abuse?
Explains what financial abuse looks like in a number of contexts, including between family members, friends, and more - Intimate Partner Violence Hurts Long After the Relationship is Over
Inform yourself about the ways abuse may affect one’s life in the long-term - Mugging is a Violent, Traumatizing Crime
Psychology Today examines this overlooked form of trauma - First Response to Victims of Crime
A video detailing how law enforcement can appropriately respond to a survivors of crime - Safeguarding Seniors
This interview with fraud expert Chuck Whitlock reviews why elder abuse is such a significant problem and offers tips for avoiding it - Break the Cycle
Educational programs on abusive relations targeted towards teens and parents
Sexual Assault & Abuse
- Kids Can Be a Trigger for Parents with PTSD
A discussion of common triggers for parents, and ideas for how to support survivors - 12 Profound Ways Childhood Sexual Abuse Impacts Survivors
A discussion of common difficulties faced by survivors of childhood sexual abuse
War & Displacement
- US Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Resources for veterans and current servicemembers. - Refugee Trauma
Guidance and education about refugee trauma and rights - Military PTSD Resources
Reading lists, financial and legal assistance, reintegration resources, and more for veterans and their families - PTSD In Refugees
An overview from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Advocate
Connect to the Larger Movement
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network
A website dedicated to improving accessibility to care and education for traumatized children and their loved ones - Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute
A program dedicated to providing comprehensive justice services for survivors of trauma. While several of their resources are concentrated in MA, they provide further research and resources for parents, first-responders, primary care physicians, and more, regardless of their location.
Hate Crimes & Racial Trauma
- The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs
This organization works to prevent and respond to crimes against the LGBTQA community - Safe Horizon
A victim’s assistance organization that provides support and promotes justice for those who’ve experienced hate crimes - Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
Founded in response to a climate of anti-Semitism, the ADL is dedicated to fighting hate and securing justice for all. - *For more, see Identity & Discrimination
Medical Trauma
- Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Health
Working to continuously improve safety in women’s medical treatment
Natural Disasters
- American Red Cross
Information on how the Red Cross provides disaster relief worldwide, including information about specific, ongoing campaigns - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Disaster relief information and opportunities to donate and/or volunteer - Emergency and Disaster Relief, UNICEF USA
Responding to disasters around the world